Impulse system



Sept. 24, 1946.

L. A. MEACHAM ETAL IMPULSE SYSTEM Filed June 5, 1941 L.A.MEACHAM INVENTORS: M. E. MOHR I By C. PAR/(ER wfi'zvf g ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNIT so STATES PA-TENT OF Fl -CE Q t 7 2,408,686 t '7 v I IMPULSE SYSTEM Larned A. Meacham, Summit, N; 3., Milton 'Mohr, Jamaica, N. Y., and Carlylei V. Parker,

Washington, D. .C., assignors toBell Telephone- Laboratories;Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationJune 5, 1941,Serial"No.*36,688

. -1 This invention relates to impulse systems and particularly to impulse generating systems.

The objects of the invention are to obtain :greater accuracy and uniformity in the production of impulses; to simplify the means used for generating the impulses in series; to enable the generating'means to repeat its cycle automatically; and to effect economy and other improvements in impulse systems and devices.

A featureof the invention is an impulse generating system comprising a series of space discharge tubes and a corresponding series of con- ,densers for producing a succession of accurately timed impulses, in which thecondensers associated with the first and all succeeding tubes are charged isimultaneously'to. an initial potential value insuificient to operatethe tubes, the succeedingconden'sers all remaining-at this intermediate potential until the condenser for the first tube in the series'reaches the tube operating potential, whereupon. the first tube discharges 'and'increases the charge on'the second condenser at a definite rate from its initial'or intermediate potential value to th operating potential of the associated second tube in the series. The second tube. now discharges and causes the-third condenser'to increase its charge from 'the initial value 'to the operatin potential :of'theiassociated tube.' Thus the tubes are discharged in succession to producea series of timed impulses, and these impulses are delivered to corresponding impulse conductors from which Ethey may be taken and utilized for any'desired purpose. An advantage of this feature isthat the initial intermediate charge on each condenser assures that said condenser will reach a'charge sufiicient to ionizenthe associated tube when the preceding tube discharges and causes the condenser to resume its charging operation. Thus the condenser can be depended upon to rise to the ionizing voltage of the tube,-although in practice the tubes may 'vary somewhat in ionizing values. Another: of the advantages of this feature is the high degree ofu'accuracy'that is obtained by giving the condensers an initial charge before the tubes are operated. Sinc each conin theseri'es operates and remains in a conduct- 9 Claims, (01. 2'50:27

i'ng condition until all tubes'in the series have operated and'in' 'Whicha controlling tube, 1ocatedat the end 'of "the series, discharges "after the Iastimpulse'tubeof the series has operated 5 and in so doing 'quenches all of the operated tubes by lowering the voltage applied to them below the sustaining value. Thus 1 the impulse producing tubesar'e restored to'norrnal at the 'end'bf ea'ch'cycle orde'rthatthe'y may proce'd'with the nextsucceeding cycle of operation.

Another feature is "an impulse generator in which two series of tubes are arranged to operate alternately, each series of tubes producing its "own seriesof impulses,"and injwhich' the controlling tube ofeach'seri'es'serves'to quenchall of the operated tubes in the series and 'also to quench th 'controlling tube of the other'series. "Eachacontroll'ing'tube, once operated to quench -its associated impulse tubes, remainsppe'rated to maintain them disabled whil'ethe'other series of tubes ar'eproce'edingthrough their cycle. Thus :the' operatedcontrolling tube'of one series must "be quenched to'all ow its associated impulse tubes to become enabled as soon as the alternateseri'es 5 has completed its cycle, andthis 'isaccomplished,

as "above noted, by the discharge of the controlling tube of the altern'ate series; By these means the generator is capable of resettin'gitself automatically to rprodu'ce'the irnpulse'cycle' indefinitely'withouttheassistance of xternalag'encie's.

These and otherfe'atures of the invention"will be described more fully in the following detailed :specification. r 1

The drawing accompanying the specification discloses an impulse generating system comprisingtwo series of'discharge tubes -T and T--2 withassociated'condensers and resistors. 'The series T l may'include any desired number of impulse tubes,'it being assumed for the purpose of 40 illustration that ten of thes tubes, l,'2, 3 l9,

are provided. The tubes illustratedareof the well-known gas-filled cold cathode type, each having a main anode, 'a' main cathode, and a starting electrode.

'The'mainanodes l'l, f2, [3, etc.,are all'connested over the common conductorZl to one terminal of the common resistorZZ and'to'one termirial'of the common condenser-23. The; main cathode of each tube is connected through 'an individual resistor and'the'n'ceover the common conductor "l t to the "grounded or negative pole of battery 25. For example, the cathode l4 of tube [is connected through. the individual re- "si'stor. l5 tothe common conductor 24. Likewise 5 the cathode l'6 of the next tube 2, is connected to the individual resistor H to the common conductor 24, and the same is true with respect to the remaining impulse tubes in the series. The

starting electrode of the tubes are connected individually through two resistors in series to the common conductor 2|. For instance, the startin electrode 26 of the tube is connected through resistors 21 and 28 to the common conductor 2 Each tube in the series T| is provided with a time measuring condenser for measuring the interval between one impulse and the next. The condenser 29 of the first tube is connected between the common conductor 24 and the junction of resistors 21 and 28. The next condenser 3|! is connected between the common conductor 24 and the junction point of the potentiometer formed by resistors 3| and 32. The other terminal of the resistor 32 is connected to the cathode l4 of the preceding tube. In like manner the next condenser 34 (and the same is true of the succeeding condensers in the series) is connected between the common conductor 24 and the junction point of the potentiometer formed by the resistors 35 and 36. r

The impulses are produced by the discharge current flowing in the main gaps formed by the anodes and cathodes of the tubes.- These impulses appear on the impulse conductors 38, which are connected through individual condensers 39, 49, 4|, etc, to the cathodes of the respective tubes.

The energy for charging the condensers 29, 30, 34, etc., is supplied by the battery 25 through the common resistor 22 when the switch relay 42 is operated.

The series of impulse tubes T--| is provided with a common control tube 43 the purpose of which is to quench all of the tubes of the series T-| at the end of their cycle and to maintainthem disabled until the alternate series of tubes T-2 has performed its impulse generating cycle. The anode 44 of tube 43, like the anodes of the impulse tubes, is connected to the common conductor 2|. The cathode 45 is connected through the biasing battery 45 to the ground conductor 24. The starting electrode 41 is connected through resistor 48 to one terminal of the con denser 49, the other terminal of the condenser being connected to the common conductor 24.

The other series of tubes T-2, which is identical with the series T|, comprises ten impulse tubes 5!, 52, 53, 54, 55 50. The tubes of this series are also provided with condenser BI, 62, 63, etc., and with resistors corresponding to those of the series T-|. The common conductor 64, to which the anodes of the tubes 5|, 52, etc., are

' connected, is joined to one terminal of the common resistor 65 and also to the common condenser 23. The other common conductor 66, to which the condensers and the cathodes of the tubes are connected, is, like the common conductor 24 of the series T|, connected to the negative or grounded pole of battery 25. The battery 25 serves to charge the condensers 6|, 62, 63, etc,

through the common resistor 65 when the switching relay 51 is. operated.

The impulses generated by the series T2 are delivered to the impulse conductors 58, which are connected individually through condensers to the cathodes of the tubes 5|,52, 53, etc.

The series T--2 is also provided with a common control tube 59 which serves to quench all of the operated tubes in the series at the end of the generating cycle and to maintain these 4 tubes disabled until the alternate series T-| has performed its impulse generating cycle.

The operation of the impulse generating system will now be described. To start the generation of the impulses the switching relay 42 is operated in any suitable manner to close its contacts. As soon as the relay 42 operates, a circuit is completed from the positive pole of battery 25, contacts of said relay, common resistor 22 and thence in parallel through resistors 28, 3|, 35 etc., and the respective condensers 29, 3t, 34, etc., to thecommon conductor 24 which is connected to the negative pole of battery 25. The condensers are charged in this circuit at a rate determined by the values of the associated resistors. Since condenser 29 is included in series only with the common resistor 22 and the individual resistor 28, it will continue to charge until it reaches a potential sufficient to cause the ionization of the control gap formed by the electrodes l4 and 26 of the tube The second condenser 33, however, is connected to the potentiometer formed by resistors 3|, 32 and I5. This condenser, therefore, will cease to charge as soon as it has reached an intermediate potential which is substantially less than the ionizing potential of the associated tube 2. Likewise, each of the succeeding condensers will cease to charge as soon as it has reached the intermediate potential.

The condenser 29 will, as noted, continue. to charge until it reaches the ionizing. potential of the tube I, whereupon the control gap of this tube ionizes in a circuit traceable from one pole of condenser 29, resistor 21, electrodes and I4, resistor |5 to the other pole of the condenser. As soon as the control gap ionizes, ionization transfers to the main anode and the main discharge current flows in a circuit from the positive pole of battery 25, contacts of relay 42, resistor 22, conductor 2|, anode l l, cathode l4, resistor f5 to the grounded conductor 24. The potential of the cathode I4 is transmitted through the condenser 39, and an impulse is delivered to the conductor 19 while the condenser 39 is becoming charged. The flow of current through the resistor |5 also increases the potential of the junction between the resistors 3| and 32, and the charging of con- 'denser 30 is resumed, raising its potential from the intermediate value at which it initially stands toward the ionizing value of the tube 2. The rate at which the condenser 30 charges from its intermediate value to the ionizing value of the tube is accurately fixed by the Values of the associated resistors. At the end of this measured interval the condenser 30 reaches the ionizing potential,

and the control gap of the tube 2 ionizes. There upon discharge current flows in the main gap circuit of the tube, including the anode l2, cathode IB and the resistor H. The potential of the cathode l5 caused by the discharge of the main gap causes the delivery of an impulse through the condenser 49 to the impulse conductor 1|. Also the potential of the cathode raises the potential of the junction point of resistors and 36, and the next condenser 34 resumes its charging operation and raises its potential from the intermediate value to the value required for the ionization of the associated tube 3. In this manher the impulse tubes are discharged at regularly measured intervals, and the impulses are produced in the associated conductors 38.

Each one of the tubes that discharges remains in its discharged condition until all tubes have been operated. Following the operation of the last impulse tube ID in the series, charging current.:.fiows from, the cathodes 12.:thron ;.resistor 1Stand:condenser; lfirtooondilotbhfll Condenser ta charges :until. its potential; when-added to-.;the voltage of ss-battery; '46 is sufficient; to ionize. the

' control: tube/4 31 Assoon. asthe, control-1' gap. of:

the;tub:e 43:;- ionizes; a; low..-impedan.ce circuit: is closed: from. common. conductor 21', anode 4.4; cathode A5,. battery 46 atozthe grounded conductor; 24:. The: currentnflowing: imthis low; impedance path-lowers. vthe potential of. "the anodes; of .1 all' of the impulse tubescto .aipoint,insuflioient to. main.- tain. ionization of: the. main discharge; gaps; Thereuponthetubes l', 2:, .35; lfl are; quenched. The control tube 43:, however; continues. to conduct; current and? inso; doingmaintains the .po-v tentialson conductor 2 below-aheoperatingrvalue of the impulsetubes; Hence the series-.'I.:-.l, having completed an. impulse' generating; cycle, is maintained disabled by the control tube 4.3;.in ordenthat the=alternate series JIZ may perform itszcycle.

Attany suitable time the switching relay- 61:15 energized to initiate the operation; of the: series 1+2; When:v the relay. 6:1: attracts its armature, atcircuitisolosed from; the positive poleof battery; 25; contacts-of relay 61, common resistor 65:.tothe conductors. In the manner already described the tubes 51 52;. 53 :of.=the series T'-.-2;are operated; insuccession to. produce measured impulses in: the. impulse conductors 68;

When the: last impulse tube 60' has operated;

condenser 14: charges and causes the ionization;

of? the controlcltube 6'9; Discharge current'now flows overwthecommon conductor 64 through the maingapiofthe tube 69,:battery 151to conductor poleofbattery-25; oontactsaof relay 61; resistor B; condenser 23, conductor 21., anode 4A3, cathode=-45,'battery 46 tothegrounded conductor: 24; The-=co-ndenser'23' assumes-a charge in this cirouit= while the impulse :series- T;.-.-2 is performing itsrcycle: of "operation; Atxtheinstantthe control tube 6.9; discharges, following thecompletion of the: cycle of: series: T 4; a discharge circuit. is closed:as:followvs. for condenser .23: from one. terminal ofisaid oondenserover conductor 64, anode and cathodeof' the tube 69, battery 15; conductor tli' battery. 25, contaots'of relay 42', resistor 223to the-other terminalofcondenser 23. The discharge currentflowing in this circuitlow'ers the potential e f-"conductor 21 belowthe sustaining value ofthe tube 43, and this-tubequenohes. As soon as tube 43 quenches, the-potential on conductor 2 1 againrises to the operating value of the tubes-of the series- 'I-"-l and this seriesimmediately repeats this impulse generating cycle.- At the end of its cycle the tube- 43' again discharges and in so doing causes the quenching of the -oontrol'- tube69- in;amanner similar to that already-described. v q

Thus'thetwo seriesof tubes T-l and T-2 operate alternately to produoeaccurately measured impulses and each series at the end of its operating cycle renders the other series operative.

From the foregoing discussion it will be seen 6 that.;the=,system; disclosed, provides a; means; for generating mar e numbenof impu w r curacy andeconomy of-equipment. By giving thecondensers an initial chargeit is possible to bring .eachpcondenser fully up; to the ionizing voltage of theassociated tube in response to oath ode; potential; produced by the operation of.:the preceding tube. This; insures a sufiicient final voltage on eachjco-ndenserto operate itsassociatedtube, although the tubes-may vary in practice.. Moreover, the method of measuring the interval. of time between-pulses by the resumed charging of. a condenser, gives; greater accuraoy to;

the measurement, since. the charging operation is, taking place on thesteep :part. ofthe time-voltage characteristic of the condenser.

- What; is: claimed is:

1-. The. combination in animpulse systemgofa; series of" discharge devices, a series of condensers associated:respectively; with said discharge. devices, meansfor. charging a first one of said con-v densers. to the operating potential of the asso-. oiated discharge device, means. for charging. the succeedingcondenserssimultaneously to an ini- I tial potential which is below the operating poten-' tial of the-associated discharge devices, means effective to operate the associated discharge device when saidfirst-condenser reaches-said operating potential, means effective upon the operation of said; first discharge device for charging the second condenser from, said initial potential to said operating potential and for operating the second'discharge device when said second-condens r. r a hes. a d; per t nejpot n a m a effectiveinresponsetothe operation of said secdischar e dev c nd. a h. succ e charge device. for. cha ng. the next succeeding condenser from said initial potentialto said operating potentialand meansfor supplying. an im. pu seinresponse totheoperation of each 5110? seeding; discharge device,

2.. The-combinationin, an impulse system'of. a

seriesof discharge devices, a series of condensers associated respectively with said discharge devices, means forcharging a first. one of, said condensersto the operating potential of. the assooiated discharge device, means .for charging the succeeding condenserssimultaneously. to an initial potential.whichis'belowthe operating. poten-. tial of the associated dischargedevioes, means eifectiye; to; operate-the associated discharg device; saidfirst condenser-reaches said ORGY-.- ating -gotential, meansteffeotive upon the opera.- tion oi; said first dischargedevice for charging theesocond condenserfrom said initial potential to; said operatingpotential and for operating the second. discharge device, when: said second; condenser reaches said operating-potential, means effective response to the operation, of saidsec- .ond discharge device and each succeeding discharges device, for charging. the next succeeding condenser.- f-romsaiq-initial.potential to said opera atinatnoten ialt. r sistor for" m n t c ar-sine. f sa d; onde se s: o ntroduc a p r n d intervalybet-weenzthezoperation oi each discharge device; and the operation of; the next, succeeding discharge device; and means, for supplying. an impulsein-response to the operation of each 'suooeedi-ng discharge device. 1

3": Id e-combination in an impulse system of a series f discharge tubes, a'series or-condensers associated respectively" with said tubes, means 'for charging said condensers simultaneously to an initial potential less than the operating potential of said tubes, means efiective upon the operation of any one of said tubes for causing current to flow to the next succeeding condenser to increase its charge from' said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for utilizing the charge on said succeeding condenser to operate the associated tube, means effective in response to the operation of said associated tube and to the operation of each succeeding tube for causing the flow of charging current to charge the next succeeding condenser from said initial potential to said operating potential, and means for supplying an impulse in response to the operation of each succeeding discharge tube.

' 4. The combination in an impulse system of a series of discharge tubes, means for operating said tubes in succession including a series of condensers associated respectively with said tubes, means for charging said condensers to an initial potential below the operating potential of said tubes and for increasing the charge on one of said condensers until the associated tube operates, means efiective in response to the operation of any one of said tubes for charging the next succeeding condenser from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube to cause the operation of said associated tube, means effective following the operation of the last impulse tube in said series for quenching the discharge in all of said tubes, and means for supplying an impulse in response to the operation of each succeeding tube,

5. The combination in an impulse system of a series of impulse discharge tubes, each tube having electrodes forming discharge gaps, means for operating said tubes in succession including a series of condensers associated respectively with said tubes, means for charging said'condensers to an initial potential below the operating potential of said tubes and for increasing the charge on one of said condensers to cause th operation of the associated discharge tube, means responsive to the operation of each tube for causing the charge on the next succeeding condenser to increase at a predetermined rate from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for supplying an impulse in response to the operation of each succeeding tube, and a control tube for reducing the potential on the electrodes of all impulse tubes to quench the discharge thereof.

6. The combination in an impulse system of a series of impulse discharge tubes, each tube having electrodes forming discharge gaps, means for operating said tubes in succession including a series of condensers associated respectively with said tubes, means for charging said condensers to an initial potential below the operating potential of said tubes and for increasing the charge on one of said condensers to cause the operation of the associated discharge tube, means responsive to the operation of each tube for causing the charge on the next succeeding condenser to increase at a predetermined rate from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for supplying an impulse in response to the operation of each succeeding tube, a control tube for quenching the discharge in all of the impulse tubes and for maintaining them in a disabled condition, and means for quenching said control tube to restore said impulse tubes to their enabled condition to produce the next series of impulses.

7. The combination in an impulse system of two series of discharge tubes, condensers associated respectively with said tubes, means for charging the condensers of each series to an in itial potential which is substantially less than th operating potential of the associated tubes and for increasing the charge on one of said condensers until the associated tube operates, means effective upon the discharge of any one of said tubes for charging the next succeeding condenser at a predetermined rate from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for utilizing the charge on each condenser when it reaches said operating potential for discharging the associated tube, means for producing impulses in response to the operation of said tubes, and means for utilizing said series of tubes alternately to produce alternate series of impulses.

8. The combination in an impulse system of two series of discharge tubes, means for operating said tubes in succession including condensers associated respectively With said tubes, means for charging the condensers of each series to an initial potential which is substantially less than the operating potential of the associated tubes and for increasing thecharge on one of said condensers until the associated tube operates, means effective upon the discharge of'any one of said tubes for charging the next succeeding condenser at a predetermined rate from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for utilizing the charge on each condenser when it reaches said operating potential for discharging the associated tube, means for producing impulses in response to the operation of said tubes, and a control tube for each of said series of tubes serving to quench the operated tubes of the associated series and to maintain them in a disabled condition while the other series of tubes is producing impulses.

9. The combination in an impulse system of two series of discharge tubes, means for operating said tubes in succession including condensers associated respectively with said tubes, means for charging the condensers of each series to an initial potential which is substantially less than the operating potential of the associated tubes and for increasing the charge on one of said condensers until the associated tube operates, means effective upon the discharge of any one of said tubes for charging the next succeeding condenser at a predetermined rate from said initial potential to the operating potential of the associated tube, means for utilizing the charge on each condenser when it reaches said operating potential for discharging the associated tube, means for producing impulses in response to the operation of said tubes, and a control tube for each of said series of tubes, each control tube serving to quench the discharge in all of the tubes of the associated series and to maintain said tubes disabled while the alternate series of tubes are producing impulses, each control tube also serving to quench the discharge in the control tube of the alternate series to enable the impulse tubes of said alternate series.

LARNED A. MEACHAM. MILTON E. MOI-IR. CARLYLE V. PARKER. 

